Dylan Thomas and other poets

Claire led off on Dylan Thomas and read from “Fern Hill”, a lyrical and ballad-like poem, more accessible than some of his work but still tinged with a characteristic melancholy. We discussed Thomas’s short and troubled life and his short stories – wonderful evocations of characters and places which still ring true today.

We then went round the table reading and discussing some favourite poetry:

Wilfred Owen (“Futility”, “The Parable of the Old Men and the Young” and “Strange Meeting”)
Keats (“Ode to Autumn”),
Auden (“Musee des Beaux Arts” and “Two Songs”)
Japanese snippets, with their beautiful quality of sparseness and stillness, from Anne.

We enjoyed an interesting and wide-ranging discussion in this very different session – no star-ratings this month.

NS August 2007